Smart Card Self-Subscription Network Access Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network subscription processes require user interaction with customer service representatives, making self-subscription and reactivation of suspended services cumbersome for non-subscribed and suspended users, respectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a smart card-based system that allows non-subscribed users to self-subscribe to network services and suspended users to reactivate their accounts by using user identifiers and subscription identifiers stored on smart cards, with network devices managing self-activation data to grant limited access and facilitate the subscription or reactivation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users interact with customer service representatives to set up subscriptions, then service subscription can be established, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires direct human interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality by enabling users to autonomously activate network services using their smart cards. The system automatically authenticates users, retrieves their subscription information, and activates services without requiring customer service representative intervention, thereby reducing both time loss and operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing user identification and subscription information on the smart card before the user needs to access services. This pre-prepared information allows for immediate authentication and service activation, eliminating the need for time-consuming setup processes
2Ease of operation
If suspended users contact customer service to reactivate accounts, then service reactivation can occur, but the process remains cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables suspended users to self-reactivate their accounts by presenting their smart cards at authorized access points. The system automatically detects the suspended status, validates the user's identity, and reactivates services without requiring customer service representative involvement, significantly improving ease of operation and reducing reactivation time
Solution Approach 2:
The smart card serves as an intermediary that carries user identification and subscription information between the user and the network system. This intermediary enables automatic authentication and account reactivation, eliminating the need for direct human-to-human interaction while streamlining the reactivation process
3Extent of automation
If self-subscription is enabled without proper controls, then user autonomy increases, but network security and policy compliance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The smart card acts as a secure intermediary that stores encrypted user identification and subscription information. It mediates between the user and the network system by providing authenticated access without exposing sensitive data, thereby enabling automation while maintaining network security and policy compliance through cryptographic verification
Data Source
AI summary
A method including receiving a network access request that includes an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) stored by a smart card associated with a user device; determining whether self-subscription to a service plan or reactivation of a suspended service plan is permitted based on self-activation data, wherein the self-activation data includes a mapping between IMSIs and data that indicates a granting or a denying of network access; selecting network access rights based on the self-activation data when it is determined that self-subscription to the service plan or reactivation of the suspended service plan is permitted; generating a temporary user profile based on the selected network access rights; and providing limited network access to the user device, wherein the limited network access permits a user to self-subscribe to the service plan or reactivate the suspended service plan.